NGT panel to probe ‘illegal’ stone mining

Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday constituted an expert committee to probe into alleged illegal stone quarrying at Rahadpur in Jajpur district and asked it to submit its report within four weeks.The NGT set up the panel while hearing a plea filed by Babuli Jena and other local residents alleging that excess stone mining is being carried out close to two minor irrigation projects (MIPs) near the Nischinta reserve forest in Dharmasala tehsil.Illegal blasting for stone mining has been causing damage to houses and roads, agricultural lands, depletion of groundwater and pollution. The committee includes senior scientists from Odisha State Pollution Control Board(OSPCB) and State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), deputy director of mines (Jajpur) and district collector.